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Herbs, nasal rinses used as alternatives to allergy drugs -

They have exotic names, such as
stinging nettle and
butterbur.

Never heard of these herbs? Many allergy sufferers take them for their symptoms.

But do alternative allergy treatments really work?

Some do work on mild symptoms, said Dr. Ruslana Kurpita, a family practice doctor at the Ohio
State University Center for Integrative Medicine.

Kurpita, who studied herbal treatments in Taiwan during a medical rotation, said she prescribes
several treatments, including butterbur extract, nasal rinses and even acupuncture therapy, for
some allergy symptoms.

She also said she tells patients that a healthy diet and Omega-3 fatty-acid supplements help
balance the good and bad bacteria in the stomach, boosting the immune system.

A number of studies have compared herbal treatments with traditional prescription medications,
including Allegra (now available over the counter) and Zyrtec.

One study published in the
British Medical Journal in 2002 reported that butterbur extract and Zyrtec were equally
effective at treating allergy symptoms.

Many allergists remain skeptical.

"There's some evidence (that alternatives work), but not compared at all to medications that we
have and can prescribe," said Dr. Richard Lockey, an allergist and researcher at the University of
South Florida.

"We have to take the guesswork out of medicine and see what really works, not what we think
works."

People should be careful taking herbal treatments, Kurpita said. Many are more potent than
patients realize. And some shouldn't be mixed with medications that patients take.

"Taking a good history is key," Kurpita said. "I ask them to bring all their bottles in with
them."

There is one alternative treatment commonly prescribed both by allergists and other doctors:
nasal rinses.

These rinses, which are sometimes called "neti pots," flush allergens from the nasal cavities.
They can be an effective treatment for patients with mild symptoms.

Kurpita said she adds small doses of eucalyptus, oregano oil and aloe vera to nasal rinses.